Dear editor,
Prior to early August, I had never even heard of Iola.
Then I learned about the Buster Keaton Celebration. Being a fan of Keaton and Charlie Chaplin and other silent film legends, I decided to make the six-hour drive from St. Louis to see what could possibly be happening in Iola.
Now, after three days and nights there, I have become a booster for your wonderful town.
The people I met there were friendly and interesting, went out of their way to make me feel welcome, showed me what a special place their home is. I spent part of a sunny afternoon walking around town, visiting some of the shops, looking at the long list of names on the war memorial in the park on Madison, admiring the old cinema (I hope someone steps up to save it).
I enjoyed excellent meals at your restaurants, a comfortable stay at Best Western, and a special dinner and presentation at the Allen County Country Club.
Some of the names I remember of people who helped make my stay so enjoyable are Susan Raines, Bruce Symes, Frank Scheide, Clyde Toland, Amy Specht and John Tibbetts. And there were many more.
Your town has a lot to be proud of. It was on display this past weekend. I’ll be back next year for some more Buster and Iola.
Cordially,
Gerry Mandel
St. Louis, Mo.
